The End Is Only the Beginning

Dearest Orchid,

I must say, you and I love to go above-and-beyond, in quite individual ways. You take each one of the personality assessments, carefully delving into what it all means; I obsessively research esoteric bits and pieces until the knowledge outs at pivotal moments. It’s why we go together so well — because, surprise, none of our results match in any relevant way! (Dear reader, if I have already lost you, take a gander at Orchid’s prior post.) So you know, your tendency that I described above squarely aligns with your Sparktype, as my abovementioned inclination matches mine. How fun!

Love Me Some End of the World

So, isn’t it just a reflection of who I am that I have obviously thought about how the world ending could be a nice reprieve? (That’s the Slytherin in me talking, methinks.) I remember when Y2K was a looming concern. In short, somehow the world got it into their collective head that as the year turned from 1999 to 2000, there would be a major outage of all things tech, and we would plunge into chaos so massive that it would derail industry and individuals. I sat by my window, surreptitiously peering out every few seconds, listening to the brand new CD player I got for New Year, song #3 on the Spice Girls’ Spiceworld disc playing on repeat (it’s “Too Much,” if anyone is deeply invested). Waiting with jittery anticipation for all of the lights to snuff out and for something to go boom. The clocks struck midnight and then ticked right past. Spoiler alert: nothing happened, much to my disappointment.

But it wasn’t until the 2012 apocalyptic drama took over as the new hotness that I started to think about the overall benefits of the world ending. Talk about a reset. All of the things you’re so worried about? No longer an issue. Concerns about completing that project, turning in that paper, having that unpleasant conversation? Irrelevant, because the landscape is gonna be astronomically different, and that shit simply won’t matter any longer. I love that, the change in priorities so significant that every-thing you ruminate about becomes inconsequential. Cue my deeper dismay that this promised panacea also did not come to pass.

It’s Not All Fun and Games, Though

All disenchantment aside, I don’t think I would like a post-apocalyptic world, beyond my definite glee that there is no longer a need to save for retirement, wee! There are two things that I am highly attached to, like an octopus wrapped around a squirmy snack — I am a big fan of modern medicine, including antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostic testing; and I am really attached to the internet. And I know those would be some of the first casualties of the world ending, which really makes me think that it would not be my cup of Earl Grey (you know, in addition to the almost-certain descent into lawlessness and lack of decency).

Like, how would I know which berries I could eat, how to take apart and clean my newly-found rifle, or the 20 best ways to alleviate anxiety when the world is ending? In all seriousness, how in hell’s name would I get the info I crave without being able to surf endless articles and comb through tiny details, gathering my relevant, tasty nuggets into a usable amorphous blob? I guess my plan would be to move into the library, which is the next best thing for us knowledge gluttons. Our local one has four stories, so decent lookout options, and there are bathrooms, assuming that running water will stick around for a minute. There is terrace space on the top floor that may be usable for gardening, if we could get the necessary materials up there. So, are you coming with me?

What If It All Works Out?

I know I say that the apocalypse would lack many of my faves, but what if that’s just my fear of change chattering away? Could be the best thing that ever happened to me. I live in the library fortress, I get to make the rules, ya know? Think about it, this could be the fresh, back-to-zero start we all need, to do things better this time. /uncharacteristic optimism

Probably though, we should at least put some effort into fixing things as they currently stand, particularly in our own little square of the world. It’s broke, so fix it, and all that.

Love,

Aster

P.S. All of this talk about unexpected changes having interesting side effects has me wondering what you would do if you found out you have only a few years to live? (In this imaginary scenario, you know exactly when it all will come to an end, so it’s not just living in fear on the daily that today is the day; you also maintain all of your current physical and mental capabilities.) How would this knowledge change how you live your life? What would you do differently, and what would you keep on doing as before?

It’s kinda like the apocalypse question, but instead of the world ending, only you are. Therefore, your decisions might be hard for others to understand, and you may not see it fit to fill them in on what’s going on, because time is short. I tend to think I would change my life drastically if faced with this situation; and yet, something tells me that as I live right at this moment, I might have to make fewer changes than anticipated. But I would definitely cash out my 401K ASAP.

[Currently listening to: the soundtrack for There’s Someone Inside Your House. For a book and movie that were distinctly ehhhhhhh, the music is fantastic. The score is decent, too. Surprise, there’s always something that doesn’t wholly suck!]